Salvatore Lima (1878 - 1965)

Born 24 Feb 1878 in Trabia, Palermo, Sicily, Italy

Died 9 Sep 1965 at age 87 in San Francisco, California, United States

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Biography

On 25 February 1878 in Trabia, Antonio Lima, age 26 (b. 1852), villico, reports the birth on 24 February of a baby to his wife, Nunzia Concilla, in their home in via Gargiolo, #26, Trabia. The baby is a boy and is named Salvadore. Witnesses are Pietro Salvaggio, age 48 (b. 1830), servante, and Diego D’Anna, age 44 (b. 1834), trafficante.^[1]

Note: Villico, or "villager," and contadino, or "countryman," both tell us that Salvatore and his father are from the vast working class, mainly farmers. They do not belong to one of the guilded professions and do not own enough property to live off its production surplus.

On 3 December 1898 in Trabia, Salvatore Lima, age 20 (b. 1878), contadino, native resident of Trabia, son of Antonio Lima, also a contadino, and Nunzia Cancilla, residents of Trabia; and Maria Pansica, widow, age 25 (b. 1873), housewife, native resident of Trabia, daughter of Salvatore Pansica, a gardener, and Maria Sansone, both residents of Trabia; announce their marriage in the civil record.^[2][3]

Before Maria married Salvatore Lima, son of Antonio, she was married to Salvatore Lima, son of Domenico. Her first husband dies at age 28 in 1894.^[4]

Salvatore and Maria have four known children: Marina (1894), two daughters named Nunzia (1899 and 1905), and Antonio (1902).

The first daughter named Nunzia dies in infancy, in October 1900.^[5] The second daughter named Nunzia is later known as Nancy.

Marina was born in 1894 in California, according to her Find a Grave profile. However, no children have been found from Maria's first marriage, when she still lived in Trabia.^[6]

Salvatore, called Sam in the United States, emigrates in 1902 with his brother-in-law, Sebastiano.

On the SS Vancouver, sailing from Naples on 27 September 1902 and arriving in Boston on 12 October 1902:

11. Salvatore Lima, 28 (b. 1874), single, salesman

12. Sebastiano Lima, 24 (b. 1878), married, fruit merchant

Both are from Trabia and are going to Johnstown, Pennsylvania. They are going to their cousin Salvatore Ignoffo at 642 RR St.^[7]

His son, Antonio, dies at age two in August 1904.^[8]

On 21 August 1905 in Trabia, Salvatore Lima, age 27 (b. 1878), a gardener, resident of Trabia, reports that on the 20th of August in his home on via Catuso, #17, Maria Panzica, his wife, with whom he lives, gave birth to a baby girl who is presented and named Nunzia.^[9]

He makes a return trip in 1906:

On the SS Nord-America, sailing from Palermo on 18 April 1906 and arriving in the port of New York on 3 May, Salvatore Lima appears on line 306/21. He is 28 (b. 1878) and married, a countryman from Trabia, Italy. He is joining his brother, Francesco Lima, at 530 Washington St., Johnstown, PA.^[10]

His younger brother, wife, and daughters join him and his brother Francesco in Johnstown, PA, in 1907:

On the SS Brasile sailing from Napoli on 15 March 1907 and arriving in the port of New York on 31 March:

8. Antonio [Lima?], 15 (b. 1892), from Trabia, joining his brother Francesco at 531 Goodall in Johnstown, PA

9. Maria [Panzica], 34 (b. 1873), from Trabia, bound for Johnstown PA, connected to next two lines with a bracket, joining her husband Salvatore Lima at 531 Goodall

10. Marina Lima, 13 (b. 1894), joining father as above

11. Nunzia Lima, 1 (b. 1906), as above^[11] Giuseppe Ignoffo travels on the same voyage.^[12]

In Marion, Ohio, Sam Lima is the ringleader of the criminal Society of the Banana, brought down by the postal police in 1909.^[13]

Each day, Sebastiano and Salvatore send large sums of money to Sebastiano's mother, Signora Carmella Barbara Lima in Palermo.^[14] Sam Lima sends dozens of money orders to his mother, Nunzia, in Sicily.^[15]

In June 1909, Salvatore and his brothers-in-law are arrested, among more than a dozen men, following a postal police investigation into the use of federal mail to send Black Hand letters. (Read This Thing of Ours Is Bananas for more on the case.) His father, Antonio, who has been visiting in Marion, flees the country to avoid arrest.^{[16][13][17][18]} Salvatore and his brothers-in-law, Sebastian Lima and Giuseppe Ignoffo, all receive long federal prison sentences.^[19]

In the 1910 federal census of Leavenworth federal penitentiary, taken 3 May:

46. Salvatore Lima (looks like “Luna”), prisoner in Leavenworth, age 32 (b. 1878), married for 14 years, Italian, emigrated in 1906, shoemaker in the US Penitentiary.^[20]

Salvatore Lima, born 24 February 1878 in Italy, registers for the draft for WWI in Eugene, Oregon, on 12 September 1918. He lives at 821 Williamette St., Eugene OR. Age 40. He is in the fruit business, self employed, at the same address. Mary Panzica Lima at the same address is his nearest relative. Salvatore is of medium height and stout build with brown eyes and dark hair.^[21]

In the 1920 federal census of the city of San Francisco, California, AD 27/ED 350, taken 2 January, Samuel Lima, 41 (b. 1878), heads a household at 1707 Taraval with his wife, Mary, 40 (b. 1879), and daughter, Nancy, 16 (b. 1903). All three were born in Italy. Samuel emigrated in 1906 and his wife and daughter in 1908. No one else on this sheet of the census is from Italy or has an Italian parent. Samuel is a retail fruit merchant working on his own account. His neighbor John Mitchell, born in CA of English parents, is a retail grocery merchant.^[22]

Salvatore becomes a naturalized citizen in Sacramento, California, in 1921.^[23]

In the 1930 federal census of Elkhorn township, Lodi city, San Joaquin county, California, taken 9 April, Salvador Lima, 49 (b. 1881), heads a household at 417 South School Street with his wife, Mary, 50 (b. 1880), and daughter Nance E., 24 (b. 1906), all born in Italy. Salvador owns his home, worth $5,000. He first married at age 20 and his wife at age 21. Salvador emigrated in 1907 and is a naturalized citizen. His wife came in 1906 and daughter in 1907. Salvador is the manager of a vineyard. None of their neighbors on this sheet are Italian or have an Italian parent.^[24]

Nunzia, who is called Nancy, petitions for naturalization in 1942. In this record she gives dates for her birth and marriage. According to this record, Nancy marries Antonio Lima on 5 June 1932 in San Francisco.^[25] Antonio is her first cousin, the son of Francesco. He becomes the boss of the San Francisco Mafia.

In the 1940 federal census of Elkhorn township, city of Lodi, San Joaquin, California, taken 9 April, Sam Lima, 63 (b. 1878), heads a household at 417 School with his wife Marie, 63 (b. 1878), both born in Italy. Sam is a farm operator working on his own account.^[26]

Salvatore Lima of 417 S. School St., Lodi, California, registers for the draft for WWII. He is 64, born in Trabia, Italy, on 24 February 1878. His contact is Mrs. Mary Lima. His employment is as manager farmer for Palermo Olive Oil Co., Oroville Dist., Palermo, CA. He signs it Sam Lima. The registrar describes Salvatore on 26 April 1942 as being about 5’7” and 190# with brown eyes, black/gray hair, and a ruddy complexion, with a mark on the edge of one of his eyes.^[27]

Sam's wife, Maria, dies at age 83 on 2 April 1956 in Lodi Community Hospital in Lodi, San Joaquin, California. Sam, who is the informant on her death certificate, does not know Maria's mother's name. In this photostat image of her death record, half the record is covered and a note says “Blocked Information, cause of Death NOT filmed... Blocked out on Photostat.”^[28]

Maria is buried in the Italian Cemetery in Colma, CA on 5 April.^[29][30]

Death of Sam

Sam Lima, born 20 February 1878 in Italy, dies on 9 September 1965 in San Francisco, CA. His mother’s name is “Cancilla.”^[31]

Salvatore “Sam” Lima, born 24 February 1878 in Trabia, Palermo, Sicilia, dies on 9 September 1965 at age 87 in San Francisco, CA. He is buried in Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery in Colma, CA. His mother’s name was Annunziata Cancilla. He and Maria Panzica Lima (1873-1956) have at least two children, Marina Lima (1894-1931) and Nunzia Eleanor Lima (1905-1997).^[32] Based on Marina's birth year, she is from her mother’s first marriage. Nunzia is a match for Nancy in census records.

Nancy dies 17 September 1997 in San Francisco, CA at age 92.^[33]

Sources

1. ↑ Atto di nascita, Salvadore Lima. (1878, February 25). Record no. 40. "Italia, Palermo, Termini Imerese, Stato Civile (Tribunale), 1862-1910," images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9M8-S9MS-Q?cc=1947613&wc=MDBD-668%3A245876101%2C246770501 : 20 May 2014), Trabia > Nati 1872-1901 > image 623 of 3067; Tribunale di Termini Imerese (Termini Imerese Court, Termini Imerese).
2. ↑ "Italia, Palermo, Termini Imerese, Stato Civile (Tribunale), 1862-1910," images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G9M8-W64M?cc=1947613&wc=MDB8-63D%3A245876101%2C246187701 : 20 May 2014), Trabia > Allegati (vari) 1890-1899 > image 2821 of 3139; Tribunale di Termini Imerese (Termini Imerese Court, Termini Imerese).
3. ↑ Atto di matrimonio, Salvatore Lima and Maria Pansica. (1898, December 3). Record no. 43. "Italia, Palermo, Termini Imerese, Stato Civile (Tribunale), 1862-1910," images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G9MZ-1L82?cc=1947613&wc=MDBD-338%3A245876101%2C246641901 : 20 May 2014), Trabia > Matrimoni e Pubblicazioni 1864-1910 > image 2071 of 2447; Tribunale di Termini Imerese (Termini Imerese Court, Termini Imerese).
4. ↑ Atto di morte, Salvatore Lima. (1894, July 3). Record no. 103. "Italia, Palermo, Termini Imerese, Stato Civile (Tribunale), 1862-1910," images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G9M8-WD1P?cc=1947613&wc=MDB8-63D%3A245876101%2C246187701 : 20 May 2014), Trabia > Allegati (vari) 1890-1899 > image 2824 of 3139; Tribunale di Termini Imerese (Termini Imerese Court, Termini Imerese).
5. ↑ Atto di morte, Nunzia Lima. (1900, October 5). Record no. 105. "Italia, Palermo, Termini Imerese, Stato Civile (Tribunale), 1862-1910," images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9MZ-ZJ3?cc=1947613&wc=MDBD-HWL%3A245876101%2C246720201 : 20 May 2014), Trabia > Morti 1864-1910 > image 1590 of 1987; Tribunale di Termini Imerese (Termini Imerese Court, Termini Imerese).
6. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/105067540/marina-lima: accessed 26 June 2023), memorial page for Marina “Mary” Lima (1894–30 Mar 1931), Find a Grave Memorial ID 105067540, citing Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery, Colma, San Mateo County, California, USA; Maintained by ColmaKitty (contributor 51383026).
7. ↑ The National Archives at Washington, D.C.; Washington, D.C.; Series Title: Passenger Lists of Vessels Arriving at Boston, Massachusetts, 1891-1943; NAI Number: 4319742; Record Group Title: Records of the Immigration and Naturalization Service, 1787-2004; Record Group Number: 85; Series Number: T843; NARA Roll Number: 056 Ancestry.com. Massachusetts, U.S., Arriving Passenger and Crew Lists, 1820-1963 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2006.
8. ↑ Atto di morte, Antonio Lima. (1904, August 12). Record no. 80. "Italia, Palermo, Termini Imerese, Stato Civile (Tribunale), 1862-1910," images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-89MZ-ZCG?cc=1947613&wc=MDBD-HWL%3A245876101%2C246720201 : 20 May 2014), Trabia > Morti 1864-1910 > image 1747 of 1987; Tribunale di Termini Imerese (Termini Imerese Court, Termini Imerese).
9. ↑ Atto di nascita, Nunzia Lima. (1905, August 21). Record no. 122. "Italia, Palermo, Termini Imerese, Stato Civile (Tribunale), 1862-1910," images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G9MZ-1NJC?cc=1947613&wc=MDBD-VM9%3A245876101%2C246830001 : 20 May 2014), Trabia > Nati 1902-1910 > image 284 of 693; Tribunale di Termini Imerese (Termini Imerese Court, Termini Imerese).
10. ↑ "New York Passenger Arrival Lists (Ellis Island), 1892-1924," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C9PT-XHTW?cc=1368704&wc=4FMB-7T9%3A1600312317 : 26 January 2018), Roll 703, vol 1554-1556, 3 May 1906 > image 96 of 815; citing NARA microfilm publication T715 and M237 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
11. ↑ https://heritage.statueofliberty.org/passenger-details/czoxMjoiMTAxOTIzMTIwMTAxIjs=/czo4OiJtYW5pZmVzdCI7
12. ↑ Img. 46 of 89. Year: 1907; Arrival: New York, New York, USA; Microfilm Serial: T715, 1897-1957; Line: 1; Page Number: 60 Ship or Roll Number: Brasile Ancestry.com. New York, U.S., Arriving Passenger and Crew Lists (including Castle Garden and Ellis Island), 1820-1957 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010.
13. ↑ ^{13.0 13.1} Oldfield, W. and Bruce, V. (2018). Inspector Oldfield and the black hand society. Simon & Schuster. Print. Pp. 74-75.
14. ↑ Oldfield, W. and Bruce, V. (2018, September 16). The postal inspector who took down America’s first organized crime ring. Politico Magazine. Retrieved from https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2018/09/16/the-postal-inspector-who-took-down-americas-first-organized-crime-ring-219597/
15. ↑ Oldfield, W. and Bruce, V. (2018). Inspector Oldfield and the black hand society. Simon & Schuster. Print. P. 87.
16. ↑ Black hand leaders jailed. (1909, June 11). Farmville Herald, Vol. 19, No. 33. P. 8. Retrieved from https://virginiachronicle.com/?a=d&d=FH19090611.1.8&e=-------en-20--1--txt-txIN--------
17. ↑ “Clue in Springfield.” The Evening Star (Washington DC). 9 June 1909. P. 1+.
18. ↑ “16 Black Hand Indictments.” The Sun (New York, NY) 12 December 1909.
19. ↑ Convict black hand plotters. (1910, January 30). Los Angeles Herald. Vol. 37. No. 121. P. 3. Retrieved from https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=LAH19100130.2.20&e=-------en--20--1--txt-txIN--------1
20. ↑ Year: 1910; Census Place: Kickapoo, Leavenworth, Kansas; Roll: T624_444; Page: 4A; Enumeration District: 0090; FHL microfilm: 1374457 Enumeration District: 0090 Ancestry.com. 1910 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2006.
21. ↑ "United States World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-G1W3-9SF8?cc=1968530&wc=9FC9-FM9%3A928309601%2C928395701 : 14 May 2014), Oregon > Lane County; I-Z > image 688 of 3930; citing NARA microfilm publication M1509 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
22. ↑ "United States Census, 1920," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9RTB-SWN4?cc=1488411&wc=QZJB-D6K%3A1036469601%2C1038729301%2C1038833001%2C1589336203 : 10 September 2019), California > San Francisco > San Francisco Assembly District 27 > ED 350 > image 1 of 31; citing NARA microfilm publication T625 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
23. ↑ "California County Naturalizations, 1831-1985," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QP7Z-BC3W : 9 August 2018), Salvatore Lima, 1921; citing Naturalization, Sacramento, California, United States, Alameda County Superior Court of California, Oakland.
24. ↑ "United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GRHM-F9W?cc=1810731&wc=QZF3-M5D%3A648807101%2C651859901%2C649682601%2C1589282368 : 8 December 2015), California > San Joaquin > Lodi > ED 14 > image 11 of 22; citing NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002).
25. ↑ Imgs 1739-1740 of 1753. The National Archives at San Francisco; San Bruno, California; Petitions For Naturalization, 8/6/1903 - 12/29/1911; NAI Number: 605504; Record Group Title: Records of District Courts of the United States, 1685-2009; Record Group Number: 21 Description: Petition 65733 Colin Joseph Mason 1942: Petition 66110 Albertina Eleonora Caroni 1943 Ancestry.com. California, U.S., Federal Naturalization Records, 1843-1999 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2014.
26. ↑ "United States Census, 1940," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9MT-X457?cc=2000219&wc=QZX5-3MN%3A790105301%2C804197801%2C804211101%2C953830501 : accessed 27 December 2021), California > San Joaquin > Elkhorn Judicial Township, Lodi > 39-18 Elkhorn Judicial Township, Lodi City bounded by (N) W Lodi Av; (E) Southern Pacific Railroad; (S) city limits; (W) city limits > image 13 of 28; citing Sixteenth Census of the United States, 1940, NARA digital publication T627. Records of the Bureau of the Census, 1790 - 2007, RG 29. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2012.
27. ↑ "United States World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:939V-3F53-T?cc=1861144&wc=SP95-2NL%3A190426401 : 8 April 2016), 004667460 > image 376 of 3050. Citing NARA microfilm publications M1936, M1937, M1939, M1951, M1962, M1964, M1986, M2090, and M2097 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
28. ↑ "California, County Birth and Death Records, 1800-1994", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:ZQ1G-CV2M : 9 December 2020), Maria Lima, 1956.
29. ↑ "California, County Birth and Death Records, 1800-1994," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G9SX-73HW?cc=2001287&wc=SJ5H-MNL%3A285174301%2C285273501 : 20 January 2018), San Joaquin > Death certificates 1956 no 562-2315 > image 166 of 2734; California State Archives, Sacramento.
30. ↑ Find A Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 11 September 2018), memorial page for Maria Panzica Lima (11 Feb 1873–2 Apr 1956), Find A Grave Memorial no. 189718457, citing Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery, Colma, San Mateo County, California, USA ; Maintained by Caryn Dugo (contributor 47273188) .
31. ↑ "California Death Index, 1940-1997," database, FamilySearch(https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VPKL-VP7 : 26 November 2014), Sam Lima, 09 Sep 1965; Department of Public Health Services, Sacramento.
32. ↑ Find A Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 11 September 2018), memorial page for Salvatore “Sam” Lima (24 Feb 1878–9 Sep 1965), Find A Grave Memorial no. 189719504, citing Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery, Colma, San Mateo County, California, USA ; Maintained by S. Pisciotta (contributor 47453018) .
33. ↑ "California Death Index, 1940-1997," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VP32-6YZ : 26 November 2014), Nancy Eleanor Lima, 17 Sep 1997; Department of Public Health Services, Sacramento.